Coming to terms

[Pole]

Coming to terms

Hi i had a stroke in February of last year finding things difficult was lucky in still able to speak and communicate finding mobility s problem but getting family support back work on light city's but worried about keeping my job

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello and welcome to this caring and supportive community. We are so pleased you are recovering well from your stroke and can understand that you are concerned about your work. May I ask if you have contacted your HR team within your work organisation? Also do you know of the Stroke Association? They can offer all sorts of information, support and self help groups all around the UK.

However are there any of our members who have had experiences similar to this member please, and can help?

Stroke Association - stroke.org.uk -resources and information including section - 'life after stroke' and a booklet - 'complete guide fir employers'. Helpline number - 0303 3033 100. Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm.

Take care and keep telling us how you are getting on.

[Hidden]

Hi Pole.

You don't say what job you normally do and how realistic it is for you to continue in it, but stay optimistic and do stay in communication with whoever it is you work for, other than just with sick notes. You do have rights in the work place and your employers should be patient and expect, certainly for now, that you will be returning. Unfortunately this is not always the case, so make certain they know for sure that your intention is to regain enough capacity to go back, either in the role you had when you had the stroke, (with or without adjustments to it), or in a new role that will take account of your health following your stroke.

Other than that, it's great that you have your family's support and at least you are seeing the positive of having escaped communication problems.

A stroke can be a life-changing thing, but think of people like TV's Andrew Marr who, although somewhat disabled by his stroke, continues to enjoy his career and still appears to enjoy life as a whole.

[Pole in reply to Hidden]

Hi I work in a warehouse I've been back working now since May

With help from occupational health but since having trouble with pain in my left knee been put on light dutys as it's taking along time to get much help with my leg am worried might lose my job if doesn't improve soon

[Hidden in reply to Pole]

Hi Pole.

I guess warehousing can be quite physical. It's good that you're back in the work place though, even if on light duties, and not 'out of sight, out of mind'. Stay positive and hope for more physical improvement, but do keep a dialogue going with your employers, through HR and through occupational health as well, so that they see you are keen to stay in the work force.

Employers can have a tendency to believe that you are just coasting along, hoping for an opportunity to leave so let them know that's not you and that you are determined to stay. At least they have found light duties for you for now, and after all, if they need personnel for the tasks you are currently doing, it might as well be you doing them.

I noticed from another reply that you are going to have a steroid injection into your knee and as someone who suffers from arthritis I can vouch for how good they generally are, so it may help a lot. If it is arthritis that's obviously long-term whether you've had a stroke or not, so good luck with managing that, and for further improvement after your stroke and in keeping your job.

[Pole in reply to Hidden]

Hi calender thanks for the feedback yes work can be physical at times but feel I can manage found my best way forward is to set goals do realise some are easier to achieve than others feel this is way forward for me☺

Problem is realising when I've pushed to far and maybe problems having at moment is my body saying you've pushed to hard for to learn to slow down i suppose.

[Hather]

Hi Pole, I hope things are getting a bit easier for you over time...my son also had a stroke last March ..he was 55 and cooking a dinner for me the day before . He was at a clients house measuring up for a kitchen when he felt ill and managed to get back to his van and call office for help..they took him straight to hospital thankfully where he stayed for two or three weeks..then 6 weeks physio and help adjusting at home.. luckily he was working locally but could have been driving to visit a client on London..

After many weeks he did just a few hours a week as well as medical appointments and scans,,,the suddenly he had terrible pains in his foot has had many MRI scans and other scans and is now wearing a boot temporarily to help support the leg and has to get the latest MRI scan result next month.. so at the moment is off sick unable to work while hopefully giving a chance for the bone to restore its strength.

They worked very hard on his speech and walking in hospital and got first class attention there

It does take time to get on the recovery outcome and I am sure you will talk to the medical people if you are struggling coming to terms with adjustments..even a little progress at a time is really great so keep as positive as you can and ask for more help and advice if you need to

..It is I understand perfectly normal to struggle after such a frightening event and I wish the best for you..

I have had my elected operations cancelled three times since September..and still waiting..but don’t mind as I am forever grateful at the fast attention given to my son.

Take care

Hather

[Pole in reply to Hather]

Hi Heather

Thanks for you response nice to hear about other peoples experience wishing your son well sounds like he's been very lucky with all his sopport i wasn't found for eight hours after my major stroke and they always say time is essential.

My main problem at moment is pain in my knee had x-rays and said arthritis but because of medication can't have anti inflammatory but got appointment today through for Feb 7th for injection steroid so hopefully. Will help also been advised to take turmeric and black pepper capsules which finding really good but am still limping badly.

But got suspicion it's more habit than anything else as not really in pain now.

[Hather]

Thanks for replying Pole. I hope the steroid injection helps you..my late husband had one for bad pain in his heal, not stroke related, but that really did help him fairly quickly as well..another friend had one for frozen shoulder..that did not work straight away, but it did a little while after ..the pain just went..so if it didn’t work very quickly, it could wellnstop the pain after a little while.. so good luck on the 7th..think son goes on the 5th to get the last MRI result,

[Pole in reply to Hather]

Hi Heather

Thanks for reply yeah suppose am thinking going to be a miracle cure what works for some people doesn't always work for others but fingers crossed.May help abit just gets you down being in pain hope everything goes well for your son on the 5th with MRI results and you get sorted with your problems soon as nothing worse than waiting and then having it cancelled i to am waiting to hear about an operation on my heart should be around may time but trying not to think about it at minute as just want to get leg sorted well best wishes to you and regards to your son larraine xxx